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An Evaluation of Alternative Approaches to Reliability Centered Maintenance

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International Journal of Applied Engineering Research ISSN 0973-4562 Volume 10, Number 19 (2015) pp 40350-40359
© Research India Publications. http://www.ripublication.com

An Evaluation of Alternative Approaches to Reliability Centered


Maintenance

Deepak Prabhakar P

Research Scholar, Dept. of Management Studies and Research, Karpagam University, Coimbatore &
Deputy General Manager (Mechanical), Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd, Mangalore (Email- deepakani@gmail.com)

Dr. Jagathy Raj V.P.

Professor, School of Management, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Kochi (Email – jagathy@cusat.ac.in)

Abstract developed varied alternatives to RCM that, while keeping the


Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) is a Maintenance core philosophy of RCM intact attempts to address and
Strategy that was developed in the 1950s and has been overcome the limitations of classical RCM.
successfully adopted in the Airline and Military sectors for the While there have been many alternatives proposed, there has
past many decades. However, the classical approach to RCM been no real attempt to evaluate these on a common baseline.
is seen as highly rigorous and time consuming for the general The authors attempt to carry out such an evaluation in this
industries, leading to its poor adoption. Many alternatives, paper.
while attempting to maintain the core tenet of RCM, have This paper is presented in three sections. In the first, after
tried to provide a simpler implementation or an approach that extensive literature review the alternatives to RCM which
is less rigorous than the classical RCM. These approaches too, were evaluated are presented. In the second, based on the
have not found wide application due to various reasons. This expectation in published literature from maintenance
paper lists the various alternatives proposed, develops a strategies, a baseline for evaluation which was formulated is
baseline for evaluation, and finally evaluates the approaches presented and in the third section, the evaluation of the
on the parameters developed, so that a clear understanding of various alternatives which was carried out using the baseline
the options are available to those who are interested in formulated is elaborated.
adopting one of these alternative approaches to RCM.

Key Words: A-RCM, Maintenance Strategy, RCM 2. Literature Review Methodology


Alternatives, RCM Many alternative approaches to RCM have been proposed.
These have largely focused on the optimisation, streamlining
and simplifying. As a first step in the analysis an extensive
1. Introduction literature review was undertaken to understand the published
Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) is a broad strategy literature on the alternatives to RCM. The search was
for managing the maintenance and reliability requirements of conducted using a two step process. In the first step search
complex systems. The system was developed in the 1950s and terms ―RCM Approaches‖, ―RCM Alternatives‖, ―RCM
has found its application in the airline industry and in the US Methods‖, ―RCM‖ were used. From the results that these
military. RCM involves the systematic evaluation of potential searches yielded, further linkages were obtained and search
failure modes and have in place actions that aim to prevent or done on terms ―Maintenance Strategy‖, ―Maintenance
predict failures. Further the strategy also calls for design Optimisation‖, ―Streamlined RCM‖, and ―RCM
changes when a situation where failures can neither be implementation‖. From the scan of the results, results that
predicted nor prevented is encountered. The approach to were simply reportage of RCM implementation and
implementation of RCM has remained constant and even calculations based on RCM implementations were eliminated.
today the ‗standard‘ method of implementation as defined in Papers based on statistical calculations were also eliminated.
the SAE-JA 1011 [1] is largely the same as the approach Literature that provided a clear description of the approach as
originally proposed by Nowlan and Heap [2]. The so called well as those that supported the search by providing additional
RCM-II approach of Moubray [3] is also nearly identical. references were perused and key summaries were extracted.
While this rigorous approach has paid rich dividends in the For the full fledged method, the originally referenced paper
airline industry, which has seen extremely high ‗mission‘ needs to be perused, as the attempt here is not to provide a
reliability, the complexity and high resource intensiveness of primer of the alternative methods but to introduce the
classical RCM has resulted in its limited adoption by other alternative and then to evaluate the same based on a
industries. methodology so created for it.
However, the fact remains that the principles of RCM can
effect dramatic improvement in the reliability and the best
approach to achieving the 100% threshold in reliability [4].
Due to this understanding researchers and practitioners have

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3. Alternative Approaches to RCM Jones put forward Risk Based Reliability Centered
There have been many attempts to define and develop Maintenance (RBCM), a new variance of basic RCM.
alternative approaches to the 'classical' RCM process. Selvik ―Basically, RBCM can be described as RCM, but with a
and Aven [5] report that ―several methodological strong statistical background. This tackles and eliminates the
improvements of the (RCM) method have been suggested, e.g. drawback of the ad hoc FMEA of the traditional RCM
PM Optimization, RCM 2, Stream-lined RCM, Intelligent approach. Risk based inspections (RBI) are one of the core
RCM Analysis and also a so-called probabilistic approach by concepts here. The RBI methodology enables the assessment
Eisinger and Rakowsky‖. of the likelihood and potential consequences of pressure
Pride elaborated on RCM alternatives as ―there are several equipment failures. RBI provides companies with the
ways to conduct and implement an RCM program. The opportunity to prioritize equipment inspections and optimize
program can be based on rigorous Failure Modes and Effects the inspection methods, frequencies and resources.
Analysis (FMEA), complete with mathematically-calculated Furthermore, RBI helps to develop specific equipment
probabilities of failure based on design or historical data, inspection plans and enable the implementation of RCM as
intuition or common-sense, and/or experimental data and such. This results in improved safety, lower failure risks,
modeling. These approaches may be called Classical, fewer forced shutdowns, and reduced operational costs. The
Rigorous, Intuitive, Streamlined, or Abbreviated. Other terms risk-based approach requires a systematic and integrated use
sometimes used for these same approaches include Concise, of expertise from the different disciplines that affect plant
Preventive Maintenance (PM) Optimization, Reliability integrity. These include design, materials selection, operating
Based, and Reliability Enhanced‖ [6]. parameters and scenarios, and understanding of the current
Extending this classification by Pride, the alternative and future degradation mechanisms and of the risks
approaches to RCM are presented here as following the five involved‖[8]. RBCM is focused on risk. This is a method that
broad categories: one – a mix of approaches, two – can help prioritize the maintenance interventions.
simplification of analysis, three – optimization approaches, Kelly developed a Business-Centered Maintenance (BCM), a
four – broad strategies that provide complete methodologies concept for determining a detailed maintenance plan. Kelly
of implementation, and five – mathematical models that emphasized the importance of identifying, mapping and
attempt to change one part of the RCM methodology. auditing the maintenance function. The BCM concept also
pays attention to the necessary administrative support. Kelly
3.1. Mix of Approaches calls his approach a BUTD approach, bottom-up/top-down
A common approach followed by practitioners in the industry approach. ―First, it is a top-down step that starting from the
is that of following a mix of different approaches. This section business context, the exact objectives for maintenance are
highlights some of these approaches. outlined considering all corporate level. The second step is a
Bloom has put forth an alternative approach to the RCM bottom-up step. It aims at establishing a life maintenance plan
implementation process. Here the approach centers on the for all equipments. In a third and last step, all item life plans
Consequence of Failure Analysis (COFA) as the guiding are fitted in a maintenance strategy‖ [9]. Applying BCM thus
point. He describes the alternative process steps as follows: results in a detailed maintenance schedule, ready for use. The
―1) Describing the component functions (where all functions major disadvantage of this approach is that it focuses only on
of the equipment are defined, 2) Describe the functional developing a schedule or a PM plan.
failures (against each of the functional failures) 3) Describe Selvik and Aven introduce the concept of uncertainty as
dominant component failure mode for each function failure opposed to probability and state ―the traditional RCM
(where only plausible and realistic failure modes are included) approach can be viewed as founded on a risk perspective
4) Assess whether the occurrence of the failure mode is where risk is equal to the expected value or the combination
evident (by this he means whether the failure of the of probabilities and events/losses. To take into account
component can be made evident by a control or detection uncertainties as indicated above, we need to base the RCM on
system) 5) Describe the system effect for each failure mode a broader risk perspective and one way to do this is to replace
(wherein the effect, functional statutory, safety etc. are listed) probability with uncertainty in the definition of risk‖[5]. They
6) Describe consequence of the failure based on the asset further introduce a new model known as RRCM, which is ―a
reliability criteria 7) Defining component classification framework based on the existing RCM, which improves the
(where the final decision has to be entered into as critical or risk and uncertainty assessments by adding some additional
run to failure)‖[4]. features to the existing RCM methodology. An extended
Mokashi, Wang and Vermar report that ―there are other uncertainty assessment is added, to address uncertainties
approaches, which thus cannot be called RCM. They are, ‗‗hidden‘‘ in assumptions of the standard RCM analyses. The
however, based on the same principles and have delivered uncertainties are then communicated to management through
reliable positive results. One such approach is risk-centered an extended uncertainty evaluation, which integrates the
maintenance or Risk-CM. NASA has in its RCM guide said results from the FMECA (and the formal maintenance
that one of the primary principles of RCM is that RCM uses optimization if optimization models are established) and the
logic tree to screen maintenance tasks that is, it uses broad separate uncertainty analysis. An essential feature of the
categories of consequences of failure to prioritize failure presented framework is the managerial review and judgement,
modes. However, Risk-CM uses a combination of probability which places the decision process into a broader management
and consequence, that is, risk to prioritize failure modes. This context. In this step consideration is given to the boundaries
gives a finer failure mode ranking‖ [7]. and limitations of the tools used.

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Khan and Haddara reported on a methodology, called risk- 5. Downtime length;


based maintenance (RBM) that is based on integrating a 6. Operating conditions;
reliability approach and a risk assessment strategy to obtain an 7. Additional evaluation for the machine access
optimum maintenance schedule. First, the likely equipment difficulty
failure scenarios are formulated. Out of many likely failure
scenarios, the ones, which are most probable, are subjected to Zajicek and Kamenicky proposed a methodology to improve
a detailed study. Detailed consequence analysis is done for the effectiveness of RCM. This method prescribed a) Better team
selected scenarios. Subsequently, these failure scenarios are time organization b) Use of standardised Maintenance Plans
subjected to a fault tree analysis to determine their and c) Analysis of only selected components [15].
probabilities. Finally, risk is computed by combining the
results of the consequence and the probability analyses. The 3.3. Optimization Methods
calculated risk is compared against known acceptable criteria. Another alternative approach is that of Maintenance
The frequencies of the maintenance tasks are obtained by Optimisation (MO). This has been described in detail by
minimizing the estimated risk [10]. Dekker [16], Turner [17], Berger [18], Idhammer [19] and
Prabata and Wiyana presented a case where RCM and RBI Dotzlaf [20].
methodology was applied together on a compressor. This was Maintenance optimization is a practice that uses mathematical
on a single equipment and they did not extend this further models to assist in the decision making process for
[11]. maintenance implementation. These models combine
Abid, Ayb, Wali and Tariq presented an alternative approach reliability with economics by quantifying costs, benefits, and
to RCM ―in which RCM is integrated with life data analysis in various constraints, and integrating the factors into basic
order to accurately estimate the failure mode followed by each economic methods. These models are particularly helpful for
component of the system‖[12]. They state that ―using this comparing the cost-effectiveness of different maintenance
technique a better failure management policy is developed policies, determining efficient inspection and maintenance
keeping in view the health of each equipment. This RCM plan frequencies, and incorporating numerous constraints into the
helps to optimize reliability of the system while being cost decision making process [16]. The traditional optimization
effective and decreasing the system downtime‖[12]. However model provides a simple, easy to understand example of how
this was demonstrated for a few equipment and not for a large optimization models work [18], [19]. While the most useful
group of equipment. models will optimize for multiple criteria, the traditional
model only optimizes for one variable – cost [20].
3.2. Simplification of Analysis The traditional model is very helpful in understanding the
Another common methodology is simplification of the process concept of maintenance optimization; however, it is not as
by eliminating one or more steps in the classical RCM. This practical in realistic applications for two reasons: it optimizes
section describes these approaches. for only one variable and failure trends are rarely accurate.
Endrenyi et al escribe an alternative approach to RCM called The optimal maintenance frequency can vary depending on
Preventive Maintenance Optimization (PREMO). They the variable being optimized; since the traditional model only
describe this as based on ―task analysis rather than on system optimizes for one variable, it could lead to incorrect
analysis. This approach is claimed to have the capability of conclusions and poor decisions for maintenance scheduling
drastically reducing the number of maintenance tasks‖ [13]. [18]. However, due to the fact that components rarely fail after
Mokashi, Wang and Vermar report about a method called a predictable time, it is very difficult to accurately depict
PMO2000 ―PMO2000 has tried to address the problem of equipment failure trends [19].
high resource demand, especially in the analysis of failure The models have the advantage that these provide a
modes. In this approach the failure modes are identified by quantitative approach for identifying the most efficient
analyzing the maintenance tasks. For example if the balance of resource expenditures and maintenance benefits
maintenance task was to ‗‗perform vibration analysis on the [16]. When analysis reveals no optimal solution, these models
gearbox‘‘, then the failure modes analyzed would be to ‗‗gear help determine candidates for reactive maintenance and the
wears or cracks, gear bearing fails due to wear, gear box tasks to be eliminated [17]. Similarly, these models can help
mounting bolts come loose due to vibration and gearbox identify which systems could be more efficiently managed by
coupling fails due to wear‘‘. These failure modes are then simpler or more advanced technology. During development,
passed through the RCM logic tree [7]. optimization models help users understand how to predict
Bevilacqua and Braglia refer to a case where the internal equipment life more accurately, which data to collect, and
methodology developed by the company to solve the how to assess the level of risk for a given maintenance
maintenance strategy selection problem for the new IGCC frequency [17], [19]. While maintenance optimization models
plant is based on a ―criticality analysis‖ (CA), which may be have obvious benefits, there are a lot of difficulties in
considered as an extension of the FMECA technique [14]. application that can make the benefits hard to realize. These
This analysis takes into account the following seven difficulties are among the numerous disadvantages of
parameters: maintenance optimization models. Maintenance optimization
1. Safety; models require massive amounts of performance and failure
2. Machine importance for the process; data that is often hard to obtain; maintenance craftsman may
3. Maintenance costs; have significant knowledge about these aspects of the
4. Failure frequency; equipment, although it is often difficult to translate this

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knowledge into data [16]. When data is available, from the allocated reliability and reliability indexes in the
optimization requires a lot of detailed calculations that can be inverse analysis of the fundamental reliability function [23].
time consuming, hard to standardize, and difficult to validate. Waeyenbergh and Pintelon developed a model called the CIB
Further yet, the results of these calculations are rarely useful model which is also a 7 step process consisting of the
because a large amount of guesswork must be used to following:
compensate for missing data or lack of expert knowledge [17]. Step 1: Identification of the objectives and resources. Step 2:
Optimization calculations require the user to quantify all Selection of the MISs (Most Important Systems), Step 3:
factors, to include the benefits of maintenance; however, Identification of the MCCs (Most Critical Components), Step
many of the necessary factors are very subjective in nature 4: Maintenance policy selection, Step 5: Optimization of the
and difficult to quantify [16]. Therefore, implementing an maintenance policy parameters. Step 6: Implementation and
optimization model for an entire maintenance program with evaluation, Step 7: Feedback [24]
numerous pieces of equipment and systems is rarely feasible; Cheng, Jia, Gao, Wu and Wang presented an alternative to
the common trade-off, which often leads to suboptimal RCM called the Intelligent RCM Analysis (IRCMA). This
outcomes, is a simplified approach that does not consider all approach focuses more on the use of an ‗intelligent‘ system
factors [21] [25]. As it provides approaches that are generic in nature, it is
Besnard, Fischer and Bretling report on the Quantitative being classified as a broad strategy.
Maintenance Optimization (QMO) techniques as that they are Besnard, Fischer and Bretling reported the existence of a
―are characterized by the utilization of mathematical models strategy called the Reliability-Centered Asset Maintenance
which quantify both, the cost and the benefit of maintenance approach (RCAM) which ―is a quantitative approach of RCM
and determine an optimum balance between these. The task in relating preventive maintenance of equipment to system
QMO is often to find the minimum total cost consisting of the reliability and total cost. It merges the concepts of RCM and
direct maintenance costs, e.g. for labour, materials and QMO and in this way overcomes the drawbacks of the two
administration, which increases with the intensity of separate approaches. The RCAM approach is a structured
maintenance actions, and the costs resulting from not method originally developed for a combined analysis of
performing maintenance as required, i.e. due to loss of reliability, maintenance, and life-cycle cost of power systems‖
production and due to additional labour and materials after [22].
component breakdowns‖ [22]. The three main stages of the RCAM approach are the
following:
3.4. Broad Strategies ―Stage 1: System reliability analysis: defines the system and
In addition to these approaches, there are broad strategies that identifies critical components
encompass the entire maintenance umbrella and can be used Stage 2: Component reliability modeling: analyses the
as stand-alone alternatives to RCM unlike other approaches components in detail and, based on appropriate input data,
described in the preceding sections. This section describes a defines the quantitative relationship between reliability and
few such alternatives developed. preventive maintenance measures
Bae, Koo, Son, Park, Jung, Han and Suh [23] proposed an Stage 3: System reliability and cost/benefit analysis: places
alternative algorithm to RCM. The proposed RCM planning the results of the component level analysis (Stage 2) in a
method (RCMP) comprises two optimization steps. The first system perspective and evaluates the effect of component
step uses the reliability matrix to minimize the total maintenance on system reliability and cost‖ [22].
maintenance cost while, at the same time, maximize the Barbera, Crespo, Viveros and Stegmaier [26] presented an
subsystem reliability. This is achieved by using a multi- advanced model for the integral maintenance management
objective optimization method. From this the maintenance (IMM) ―in a cycle of continuous improvement, which is
cost function can reflect the current maintenance aligned with the strategies, policies and key business
characteristics of the components by generating essential cost indicators. This model claims to use a series of real aspects
factors defined by the reliability and maintainability of each needed to convert a theoretical model in a real and useful
component. This method which was more mathematical and maintenance management model. The model claims to take
model building in nature, defines the reliability function of the into account the real or genuine constraints that could limit the
system by using a reliability network between appropriate design of preventive maintenance plans and the resources to
subsystems and components, which mimic an artificial neural do so. It considers the selection of critical spare parts
network. The second optimization step allocates the (inventory cost vs. cost due to unavailability of critical
maintenance reliability of each component to the maintenance equipment) and the positive involvement of e-technologies (e-
cost, reliability function, and desired subsystem reliability. In maintenance) in modern maintenance management on a global
the case of maintenance reliability allocation, the optimization level. In turn, the model consists of seven arranged stages that
process seeks to minimize the maintenance costs whilst follow a logical sequence of action hierarchy and align local
meeting the desired subsystem reliability requirements. This maintenance objectives with the global business objectives; all
research applies an evolutionary algorithm to find the best these in a framework of continuous improvement using the
reliability allocation by searching for the global optimum in principles of the BSC methodology applied to maintenance
the nonlinear domain. Finally, Bae, Koo, Son, Park, Jung, Han management.
and Suh presented a maintenance plan, determined by The stages defined in this are:
estimating the maintenance time of the components as derived 1. Analysis of current situation
2. Ranking of equipment

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3. Analysing weakness in equipment comprehensive implementable strategy. Many of these models


4. Design of maintenance plans have been based on Markov methods.
5. Maintenance scheduling and optimisation Most of these models have remained in the realm of academic
6. Control and evaluation works without industrial adoption. As Van Horenbeek et al.
7. Life cycle analysis and replacement‖ stated ―currently, there is a big gap between academic models
and application in practice, for this reason, it is very difficult
The authors had proposed a methodology called Accelerated for industrial companies to adapt these models to their specific
Reliability Centered Maintenance (A-RCM) [27]. This business context‖ [29]. However, these have been presented
involves a sequential rolling out of the program by here for the sake of ensuring that no alternative remains
implementing RCM in stages. This methodology approaches hidden.
RCM as a step-by-step approach of successive analyses, rather Endrenyi, Anders and daSilva presented a model that
than the comprehensive approach advocated by the classical measured impact of maintenance on reliability [30]. Theil
approach. Here the aim is to use all extant programs and then presented an extension of the Markov-model of this method in
build on them to implement RCM, unlike the classical application to RCM. In this model, ―to include exploitation-
approach that starts afresh. This strategy is also continuously time dependent outage rates, the time-behavior is approached
‗learning‘ by adjusting the program on each failure. by a step-by-step trend function. In that way, to each wear-out
The objective of this method is to provide immediate state a special outage rate is assigned. Thiel concluded that
improvement in reliability and this method provides for ―because of its complexity the direct implementation of the
improvement as soon as or even concurrently as the failure proposed model into reliability calculation software for large
modes are identified, which takes care of one of the causes of electrical networks is not applicable in practice. However, by
failure of the conventional RCM process - that of excessive neglecting state transitions which are not relevant for systems
delay in implementation of actions [28]. with typical component reliability levels, the complex model
This method in effect provides an amalgamation of the can be reduced and thus be implemented into conventional
various methods and collates the key features of CBM, TPM reliability calculation software without major modifications‖
and RCM into one target, that of failure prevention. However [31].
this method is not without its limitations and the most obvious Croacker and Kimar proposed an alternative to RCM – Age
one is the fact that establishing reasonable likelihood is Related Replacement based on Hard-life and Soft-life and
dependent on a sequential process which may result in all proposed a model for suggesting replacement intervals. By
potential failure modes not being apparent, at the initial stages their own admission, the example they showed ―took about 10
of the implementation. Further this also relies on a continual hours to produce the output, using a full grid search for just
system of adding on failure modes and can result in missing one part‖ [32].
certain key modes, in the event of a lapse in reporting and Adoghe [33] developed a Markovian model to assess the
analyzing a failure [28]. effect of RCM implementation which strictly is not a new
The authors have separately assessed that the ―A-RCM is a model but a new method of assessment.
process that largely follows the RCM process. It differs from Aurich, Siener and Wagenkneckt proposed the Quality
RCM in the methodology of identifying potential failures, Oriented Analysis (QOA). The analyzing procedure assesses
wherein, instead of an FMEA, this process uses a history of the cause-and-effect coherences between the condition states
past failures for providing the first round of predictive, of machines as well as tools and the product quality within
preventive & default actions. This allows quick realization of manufacturing process chains. Thereby, the procedure consists
reliability improvement in comparison with RCM. This of a deductive and an inductive analysis phase. During
process, like RCM, is benchmarked through the SAE standard deductive analysis, the manufacturing process chain and
with the exception of the demand for meeting ‗reasonable inherent cause-and-effect coherences are identified and
likelihood‘ where this process may not immediately meet the documented. Structure models of the manufacturing process
requirements of the standard. Further, the system allows for chain and more or less established hypotheses about cause-
prioritization of effort based on the criticality of the and-effect coherences are the provided results. Following this,
equipment in consideration. The skill required is comparable during the inductive analysis the identified hypotheses are
or lower than that required for RCM. The system builds in verified or falsified based on the empirical analysis of data
continual improvement as part of the system itself. The collected within manufacturing process chains [34].
disadvantages of the system are that, unlike RCM, this cannot Sikos proposed a new model that considers the interaction
be applied plant by plant and needs to be implemented across between maintenance cost and the reliability index [35]. Here
all the plants in one location so as to ensure that adequate the ‗time-dependent reliability index as proposed by Neves,
history of failures are available. This also has a limitation in Frangopol and Cruz [36] is used.
that the method is not strictly as prescribed by the standard
[28].
4. Developing a Baseline for Evaluation
3.5. Mathematical Models With so many different directions taken by the alternatives, let
There have been many attempts to provide one-off models of alone evaluating them on a common baseline, establishing a
RCM that are predominantly mathematical in nature and rely baseline itself will be difficult. In order to develop the
on probabilistic approaches to the RCM. These models focus baseline for evaluation, a survey of published literature on
on a specific aspect of the RCM rather than as a what constitutes the desirable characteristics of an asset

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management program is done, and from there a baseline that Woodhouse listed the requirements of an Asset Management
can be used for evaluation is developed. program.
Mokashi, Wang and Vermar state that ―RCM is meant to be a - ―Lost Opportunity/downtime events are monitored
‗living system‘, i.e. there is a system of feedbacks which and costed
ensures that any newly identified failure modes are - Problem/opportunity identification, investigation and
incorporated into the system, as well as the effectiveness of solving processes all linked together and part of
the recommended maintenance actions is recorded‖ [7]. normal, daily life
Smith and Hinchcliffe say that they ―cannot emphasize too - Natural cross-functional team-based working style
strongly, however, the importance we attach to the notion of - Full-time facilitator(s) to make innovation ideas
simple‖ [37]. They further state that ―all too often O&M happen
organizations are heading down the path of very complex - Education: urgently addressing the big gaps and
organizational experiments, overnight attempts at cultural backlog at management, technical and workforce
change and unrealistic expectations of dramatic and highly levels
visible payoffs for relatively small and short-term investment‖ - Twin track corporate planning: an ambitious but
[37]. realistic goal, on a timescale (typically 3-5 years)
August asks these questions which pertain to the requirements sufficient to achieve fundamental behavioural
of an effective RCM program: ―Craft workers know change, with clearly-connected ―quick wins‖
maintenance performance, but do they know the right priorities used to pay for the sustained commitment
maintenance? Do they know when to do it? Can they show to end goal‖ [42].
why certain maintenance is correct? Can they discover when it
is wrong? Over time, can they incorporate learning? Do they Selvik and Aven argue that ―it is crucial to the decision
know when they have reached maintenance limits and what process that the RCM is adjusted to reflect uncertainties, as
the equipment can achieve under optimum maintenance? Does ignoring these may in many applications lead to ‗‗non-
maintenance complement operations?‖ [38] optimal‘‘ maintenance strategies‖ [5].
August further states that ―industrial maintenance is best Spitler describes certain characteristics for any process to be
performed when planned. The challenge is to choreograph implemented. These are a) Credibility b) Consistency –
maintenance steps, aligning them with plant operations to treatment of one equipment or system must parallel that of
minimize operating disruptions‖ [38]. another equipment or system c) Structured Format with
Marquez and Gupta quoting Campbell and Reyes-Picknell standardized yet simple procedures d) Training of key
[39] suggest a ―formal structure for effective Maintenance personnel [43].
Management. The process starts with the development of a Zajicek and Kamenicky found that ―Management
strategy for each asset. It is fully integrated with the business requirements of RCM are a) lower time of analysis →
plan. At the same time, the HR related aspects required to financial savings, faster results implementation b) unlocking
produce the needed cultural change are highlighted. Next, the of specialists for other activities and c) maintenance plans for
organization gains control to ensure functionality of each asset all equipment‖ [15].
throughout its life cycle. This is done through the In all these, there are some common requirements and these
implementation of a CMMS, a maintenance function can then be adopted as the basis for evaluation. The
measurement system, and planning and scheduling the parameters so derived and to be used for the evaluation are
maintenance activities. This is accomplished according to presented below:
various tactics employed depending on the value that these 1. Structured Format with standardized & Simple
assets represent and the risks they entail for the organization‖. procedures
Among these tactics that Campbell and Reyes-Picknell (1995) 2. Coverage of All Equipment
includes are ―(a) run to failure, (b) redundancy, (c) scheduled 3. Monitoring of Failures and Actions
replacement, (d) scheduled overhauls, (e) ad-hoc maintenance, 4. Quick Wins
(f) PM, (g) age or use based, (h) condition based maintenance, 5. Program to be part of day-to-day activities
and (i) redesign‖ [40]. 6. Adjusting to Uncertainties or Trigger Events
Li, Vaahedi and Choudhury state that RCM should include the 7. Retain core feature of RCM Standard
following components at the minimum: 8. HR Linkages – Full time facilitators
- ―Collecting statistical data such as operations history, 9. Strategic Scalability
failure records, aging status tests or assessments
- Estimating failure probabilities due to repairable and
end-of-life failures of equipment 5. Grouping the Alternatives
- Evaluating impact of individual failures on the The basis for evaluation presupposes that the alternative to
system RCM is one that has to be implemented by the industry.
- Quantifying the effects of maintenance activities Accordingly, certain parameters become more relevant and
improving equipment failure frequencies/ repair those strategies that conform to the requirements become
timers and whole system reliability preferred ones. Before carrying out the evaluation, the various
- Applying economic or reliability criteria to strategies described in the preceding sections are further
determine the best scheme‖ [41]. classified on the basis of broad heads for ease of
understanding. These are highlighted in the table 1.

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This table gives a quick breakdown of the various strategies which is the optimisation of costs and enhanced plant
being evaluated. These will further be evaluated. It may be availability is not achieved.
noted that for the purpose of brevity only the abbreviations of Among the alternatives highlighted, the mathematical models
the alternatives are used here and forthwith. do not meet this requirement due to the fact that these, due to
the nature of analysis, can only be applied on a few assets, and
Table 1 - Quick Breakdown of Alternatives if attempting to apply comprehensively, will lose out on the
time horizon of benefit accrual. Among the other approaches,
Broad Parameter Alternatives that follow this CIB, due to its selection of the ‗Most Important System‘,
Head misses out on the completeness. COFA excludes equipment
Approach Top-Down COFA, Risk-CM, RBCM, that have low consequences and Risk-CM and RBCM those
(FMEA Driven) RRCM, RBM, CA, MO, QMO, that have low identified risk. All other approaches cover (if so
RCMP, CIB, RCAM, QOA desired) all the assets.
Bottom-Up BCM, PREMO, PMO2000,
(Failure Driven) IRCMA, IMM, A-RCM 6.3. Monitoring of Failures and Actions
Analysis Mathematical RBCM, RBM, MO, QMO, For any alternative to be effective there should be a
RCMP, RCAM mechanism to trigger changes in the event of a failure. An
Logical- COFA, Risk-CM, RRCM, CIB, equipment failure indicates that there is a flaw in the
Analytical IRCMA, IMM, A-RCM, QOA methodology and this needs immediate correction. Models
that are able to correct themselves without waiting for a
review cycle will be more effective that other static models. In
6. Evaluating the alternatives order to achieve this, there has to be a mechanism that tracks
The various alternative approaches are evaluated under each and acts on failures. Typically, top-down approaches will not
of the heads identified in section 4. be able to meet this requirement fully. Of the top-down
approaches, CA uses failure frequency as an input to analysis.
6.1. Format and Simplicity While other models do not explicitly state this step, it needs to
An important requirement of any alternative is the Simplicity assumed that those alternatives that are broad based and
and the formal structure. This makes the system easy to adopt relying on a FMEA would have this step built in intuitively.
and easy to manage. The mathematical models with its Hence it can be considered that models like COFA, Risk CM,
reliance on Markov analyses as well as complex algorithms RBCM, BCM, RRCM and RBM as well as PREMO and
fail this requirement. For the very same reason, the PMO2000 with the focus on optimisation of PM actions,
Optimization methods that rely on mathematical models as its would also have this requirement built in. A-RCM, where a
basis also fail to meet this criterion. failure triggers and immediate adjustment to the actions meets
Among the other alternatives, the COFA, Risk CM, RBCM, this requirement. Mathematical and Maintenance
BCM, RRCM and RBM, forming the ‗mix of approaches‘ are Optimisation approaches do not meet this requirement.
all complex to use, mainly due to their reliance on FMEA as a
starting point (COFA), extensive calculation (Risk CM, 6.4. Quick Wins
RBCM, RRCM and RBM) and elaborate methodology One of the frequently cited limitations of classical RCM is the
(BCM). RCMP, IRCMA, RCAM and IMM from among the inability to provide quick wins. Literature reports cases where
‗Broad strategies‘ are also complex due to dependence on years have passed by without implementable outcomes from
Mathematical models. CA and CIB are simpler due to its classical RCM analysis. Considering that the success of any
approach of component-criticality which is intuitive and easy new strategy depends on demonstrated benefits as well as the
to adopt for maintenance practitioners. A-RCM in the initial commitment of the management, the alternative should build
stages is a simple approach relying on a sequential buildup, in quick wins, by which it is understood that there has to be
but as the stages progress, the complexity increases to some implementable maintenance tasks from the early stages of
extent. implementation, even if the task is for just one equipment.
The ‗Simplification‘ alternatives, namely PREMO and Among the alternatives, the typical top-down approach that
PMO2000 by the very approach – that of simplification of PM starts with an FMEA or an analysis of probable failures
Tasks are the simplest to use. However these have the danger prevents quick wins. The approaches that start off with
that the methodology does not follow a formal structure. implementation starting in parallel with the analysis would
Analysis of the approaches for the format and simplicity help in achieving quick wins in terms of reliability
indicate that there is a trade-off between the simplicity and improvement. The strategies that are effective in this
comprehensiveness. A simple approach like PMO does not parameter are CIB, IRCMA, IMM and A-RCM. It can be
attempt to identify Predictive approach or Design changes, assumed that CA would also provide quick wins for at least a
whereas the comprehensive strategies are by no means simple. few classes of equipment.

6.2. Complete Coverage of All Equipment 6.5. Integration with day-to-day activities
A maintenance program can be effective only when it covers One of the needs identified calls for any strategy to be
all the assets of the organization. By doing analysis in only a integrated with day-to-day activities. While RCM by its very
few equipment, the real goal of reliability improvement, nature is separate from normal maintenance activities, some of
the alternatives are tightly integrated with the existing

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International Journal of Applied Engineering Research ISSN 0973-4562 Volume 10, Number 19 (2015) pp 40350-40359
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practices. These alternatives are easier to implement than implementation in a nuclear industry). Hence the alternative
others. Of the alternatives, BCM, PREMO, PMO2000 with its needs to be scalable, in that it can be adopted system by
focus on PM provide a fair degree of integration with the system and slowly cover all systems.
existing practices. IMM with its continuous analysis of current Among the alternatives, the following systems necessarily
situation and A-RCM with its in-built integration with the needs to be implemented organization-wide, and hence cannot
existing practices fit this requirement. be deemed as meeting these criteria. QMO and RCMP with its
minimisation of Total Cost of maintenance and CIB with the
6.6. Event/ Uncertainty Handling need to identify the most important system from all do not
A limitation of the classical RCM approach is the time delay meet the requirement of scalability. MO methods may also not
in a trigger event translating into an action. A failure in an fit into scalability, since the primary concern is to ensure
equipment already covered by the RCM will not immediately optimality in costs, tasks and resources. A-RCM is scalable,
see an action on related and similar equipment, unless not on application but on intensity and depth.
specifically built in. This will normally reflect only in the next
cycle of FMEA analysis. The alternative proposed should 6.10. Summary of Evaluation
ideally have a mechanism to incorporate this into the system The sections above evaluated the alternatives against each of
immediately. Due to this all top-down approaches will fail in the nine parameters. While each of the alternatives have
this requirement. Of the bottom-up approaches, the ones something specific to offer as an advantage, the evaluation
which are focused only on PM tasks, will, again not meet this showed that, of all the alternatives none met all the parameters
requirement. Considering this, the alternatives that meet the completely. Of the alternatives CA, A-RCM and IMM
requirement are IRCMA with its intelligence based approach complied with the majority of requirements, while
to analysis, IMM with its analysis of current situation as the Mathematical Models and both the Optimisation models (MO,
basis for analysis, CA with its monitoring of failure and QMO) complied with the least number of parameters.
downtime length and A-RCM which used the failure as the The summary of the evaluation is presented in the table 2
trigger for deciding RCM tasks. below, so as to provide a ready reference to those wishing to
choose one of these alternatives for implementation. The
6.7. Correlation to Classical RCM/ Standard tabulation is done as O – Meeting Fully, X – Not Meeting, P-
There exists the SAE JA1011/ 1012 standards that have Partially Meeting and ? – Possibly meeting.
codified how RCM should be implemented. While this
standard nearly mandates the use of FMEA in order to Table 2 - Summary of Evaluation
establish the failure modes that are ―reasonably likely‖ to
occur, alternatives that do not follow the FMEA approach
Baseline
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.
may not comply to the standard. Of the alternatives, nearly all
of the top-down approached will cnform with the →
Simplicity
Format &
Coverage
Complete
failures
Monitoring
activities
day
Quick Wins
to day-to-
Integration
Handling
Uncertainty
to Standard
Correlation
Facilitators
Full time
Scalability
Strategic
requirements of the standard. The alternatives BCM, PREMO,
PMO2000, IRCMA, IMM, in addition to MO, QMO and none
of the mathematical models meet this requirement. CA and A-
RCM meet this requirement partially, if a more liberal
Alternatives↓
interpretation of reasonable likelihood is applied.
RCM* X O O X X O O O O
6.8. Human Resource - Facilitators COFA X X O X X X O O O
One of the requirements that were identified was the need for Risk-CM X X O X X X O O O
organizational support in the form of a full time facilitator. RBCM X O O X X X O O O
The presence of this facilitator ensures that the RCM BCM X O O X P X X O O
implementation stays on track as well as ensures that the RRCM X O O X X X O O O
system remains under control. The scan of the literature RBM X O O X X X O O O
indicated that in all the alternatives analysed here, there is no PREMO O O P X P X X P O
mention about the requirement or presence of full time PMO2000 O O P X P X X P O
facilitators. However, it can be surmised, taking into account CA O X O X X O O O O
the fact that these are all additions to existing maintenance MO X O X X X X X O X
practices, and there will be the need for a full time facilitator QMO X O X X X X X O X
who ‗drives‘ the system forward. RCMP X O X X X X O O X
CIB O X X O X X O O X
6.9. Strategic Scalability IRCMA X O X O X O X O O
As with any strategy, the alternatives to RCM (and indeed RCAM X O X X X X O O O
RCM itself) needs to be scalable in that it should allow IMM X O X O O O X O O
organizations the option of slowly ensuring complete A-RCM P O O O O O X/? P O
coverage. This was treated as one of the biggest drawbacks of MM X X X O X X X O O
the classical RCM approach and the literature cited reports the * Classical RCM was not analysed in detail, but is presented
pitfalls of the need for organization wide implementation
here so that a quick comparison can be made
upfront (eg. August, Ramey and Vasudevan [44] report on an

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7. Conclusion and Future Work [11] Prabata, S., & Wiyana, A. F. (2012). Application of
This paper attempted to provide an evaluation of the various combined Reliability Centered Maintenance and Risk
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evaluation was generated based on the generic requirements Effectiveness of Maintenance Management of
of maintenance strategy and the alternatives were subject to a Compressor ZR 5 Intercooler. The Indonesian
qualitative evaluation based on the understanding of the Journal of Business Administration, 1(2).
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